Dean Smith keeping Walsall grounded

Goals from Liam Kinsella and Tom Bradshaw saw the Saddlers earn a deserved 2-0 victory over fellow high-flyers Burton Albion on Saturday.

The result, in front of almost 7,000 fans at the Banks's Stadium, allowed Smith's side to leapfrog their opponents and move back to the top of the League One.

They have 25 points from their opening 12 games but, despite another fine team performance, the Walsall boss is remaining calm with just a quarter of the season having been played.

He said: "I take a lot of pride in being top of the league, but we want to be there in May.

"We're 12 games in and we've only lost one game so we deserve a lot of credit for how we've been playing and the results and performances we've had.

"But the important thing is to be there in May. We are getting a lot of publicity at the moment for being where we are, but prizes are given out at the end of the season, not now."

Smith was courted by Championship outfit Rotherham in the days before the game, with the Millers making an approach for his services that was swiftly rejected by the board.

And the Walsall chief laughed off any suggestion the speculation might have affected his players, while also reiterating his commitment to the club.

He said: "Did there look like there was a problem? No. There you go, If you've been at a club for as long as I have you have an affiliation with them.

"There have been ups and downs as there always will be at a club but there has been a steady rise all the way through it.

"That's also in terms of the players that have come through and the ones we have picked up who are younger and getting better."

Smith was also delighted for Kinsella, who grabbed his first senior goal with a stunning first-half drive.

He added: "His attitude and his application to his profession are brilliant."